News - Technology billionaires back asteroid mining project

[TeePee]

Wow bought into the agw thing bad, put it simply billions of people will die of hunger way before any fossil fuel issues rise up. Also space exploration will inevitably lead to cheaper energy eventually. You seem a bit idealogical which really isn't needed for such important matters

Nuclear energy is limitless. LFTR for example shows huge potential. If it weren't for the scientific decline in the US, which is partly a religious issue and mainly a political one with the current administration, we'd be moving along much quicker.

[TeePee]

I'm all for advancing humanity (and honestly disappointed in how slow it's been since the '70's'). It's just worth considering some of the ricks involved. Kessler in particular is a little know but real problem which *could* create a limitation on human progress with an extreme long term effect.

[mark22]

There we agree, shortsigtedness amongst money throwing politicians is a problem.

[mark22]

I've readjusted my assessment of you teepee where next. I'm all for fusion I reckon as long as it dont go wrong.

[Scribe]

I've readjusted my assessment of you teepee where next. I'm all for fusion I reckon as long as it dont go wrong.

The truth is, even next-gen fission reactors are inherently safer and 2-3 times more efficient. Instead of concentrated rods, there are techniques like diluting the uranium in water, if the water evaporates, the reaction stops etc (I'm over simplifying here). Sadly we've had this attitude that if it hasn't gone wrong yet, it must be safer, with the current reactors, which simply isn't true and which have proven fundamental flaws. This has held back the deployment of newer, safer designs.

Likewise, I want fusion to be king in the end, it's theoretically more efficient, uses cheap non-toxic materials and most of all, doesn't suffer from a tendency to chain react, making it the true safe, clean and cheap energy that we all want. I hope that research at ITER continues to progress well.

[Matni]

I really hope the first mining space ship is either called or at least referred to as Red Dwarf.

And with that kind of money on the line, how is this only being talked about now and not 10 years ago?